Officials Seek Public Input For Proposed Project On 15 Freeway In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The City of Lake Elsinore and the California Department of Transportation have opened a public comment period for a proposed project to improve the 15 Freeway and Nichols Road interchange, with plans to gather community feedback as environmental review begins, according to Caltrans.

The public scoping period runs through Nov. 12, following its opening Oct. 13. Caltrans District 8 will lead the environmental review and prepare an environmental impact report to evaluate the proposed improvements and address potential concerns, the agency said.

A public scoping meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Arts Center where residents will have an opportunity to learn about the project, ask questions of the project team and submit comments. Comment cards will be available at the meeting, Caltrans said.

The proposed project would widen the Nichols Road overcrossing and interchange ramps to increase storage capacity and bring shoulder widths up to current standards. Plans also call for adding a segment of auxiliary lane on the northbound 15 Freeway, installing sidewalks, crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and bicycle lanes, and adding or upgrading traffic control devices at intersections, according to Caltrans.

The project area extends along the 15 Freeway from approximately a half-mile north of Central Avenue to about 2.2 miles south of Lake Street, within and near the Nichols Road interchange in Riverside County.

The improvements are intended to address interchange operations and accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists through additional transportation infrastructure.

Caltrans prepared a notice of preparation to begin the environmental review process and solicit public input on issues that should be considered in the environmental impact report.

Residents who cannot attend the meeting can submit comments during the public scoping period, which ends Nov. 12. Public input will help identify issues for consideration as the project moves through environmental review.

More information about the I-15 Nichols Interchange Project can be found here.